House District 8 is based in Middletown and extends west to the Maryland border. (If you are not 100% sure whether you live in House District 8, you can search here using your address.) If you live in this district your choice on November 3 to represent you in the Delaware House is between the Rae Moore and Gary Taylor. Using a multiple choice format, we asked these two candidates to share their views on five statements related to traffic safety in Delaware. Here are their answers:
1) I voted for, or agree with, the Truth in E-Bike Marketing Act (HS 1 for HB 439), which prohibits commercial sellers from advertising high-speed electric motorcycles using terms like “electric bicycle” or “e-bike” and requires clear written disclosures regarding a vehicle’s legal classification, power, and licensing requirements.
Moore: “Strongly Agree”
Taylor: “Strongly Agree”
2) I voted for, or support, the recently passed HB 363, which allowed the default speed limit on streets in residential districts to be lowered to 20 mph.
Moore: “Strongly Agree”
Taylor: “Agree”
3) Single-vehicle run-off-the-road crashes account for over a third of Delaware’s fatal crashes. To address this, I would support legislation complementing HB 363 that lowers the default speed limit on low-volume rural roads (e.g. “tar and chip” roads) below the current 50 mph threshold.
Moore: “Strongly Agree”
Taylor: “Neither Agree of Disagree”
4) To further reduce traffic crashes on rural roadways, I support making Delaware’s rural road network more “self-explaining” using road surfaces and roadside design that convey a continuous visual message to drivers, providing more effective guidance than intermittent signage alone.
Moore: “Strongly Agree”
Taylor: “Neither Agree of Disagree”
5) To reduce crashes at intersections, I support the use of single-lane urban roundabouts and engineering those roundabouts to be slow speed junctions, keeping vehicle speeds under 20 mph at all potential collision points.
Moore: “Strongly Agree”
Taylor: “Neither Agree of Disagree”
6) Is there anything else about your record as an elected official, your experience or your views that you think is relevant to improving traffic safety in Delaware for the people you wish to represent in the 154th General Assembly?
Moore: As the State Representative for the 8th District, I recognize the importance of building communities where residents can safely walk, bike, and travel throughout their neighborhoods. As Middletown and the surrounding communities continue to grow, our transportation infrastructure must keep pace with that growth while prioritizing the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, children, and families.
I have consistently supported efforts to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety, and I believe traffic calming must be part of that conversation. In particular, I would like to see the Town of Middletown prioritize investments in neighborhood traffic-calming measures, including speed bumps or speed humps where appropriate, to discourage speeding and protect residents on residential streets.
Improving traffic safety also requires collaboration among state and local governments to expand sidewalks, improve crosswalks, strengthen bicycle connections, and ensure that new development incorporates safe and accessible transportation options.
As both an educator and a mother, I understand the importance of creating neighborhoods where children can safely walk, ride their bicycles, and enjoy their communities. My commitment is to continue advocating for practical infrastructure improvements and policies that make the 8th District and beyond safer, more connected, and accessible for residents of all ages and abilities.
Taylor: I would need more details and statistics before I can take a more specific position on some of these questions. I believe we should be addressing the primary cause of the crashes as the priority first. Is it road conditions, speed, distracted driving, or something else? Once we determine the primary cause, then we examine the options for the corrective action.
